Curcuma plant named ‘Pink Neon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct curcuma plant having multi-colored inflorescences with a dominant bright pink color and compact characteristics.

Botanical classification: Curcuma hybrid.

Varietal denomination: ‘Pink Neon’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of curcuma plant known by the varietal name ‘Pink Neon’. The new variety was discovered in 2016 in Chiangmai, Thailand as the result of a planned breeding program with the purposes of providing curcuma plants with new coloration and characteristics. The new variety is the result of a cross between an unnamed and unpatented Curcuma alismatifolia variety (female parent) and an unnamed and unpatented Curcuma parviflora variety (male parent). The new variety is similar to its female parent in exhibiting white flowers with a purple lip, but exhibits a smaller overall plant, leaf, and inflorescence size than its female parent. Similar to its male parent, ‘Pink Neon’ exhibits green and brown colors in its bracts, but differs from its male parent in exhibiting a larger inflorescence size and a dominant pink upper bract color. Tissue culture and bulb asexual reproductions of the new variety first occurred in 2016 in Chiangmai, Thailand. ‘Pink Neon’ has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

Its compact characteristics and overall inflorescence coloration distinguish ‘Pink Magic’ from other curcuma varieties known to the breeder. Further, when ‘Pink Neon’ is compared to Curcuma hybrid ‘Pink Magic’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/501,646), the varieties are similar in exhibiting multi-colored inflorescences with a dominant pink color. However, the leaves of ‘Pink Neon’ are narrower than those of ‘Pink Magic’ and ‘Pink Neon’ exhibits upper flower bracts that are elliptic in shape, while the upper flower bracts of ‘Pink Magic’ are oblong in shape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing taken at approximately 60 days of age illustrates the new variety, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new variety at approximately 60 days of age. The data which defines these characteristics was collected under natural light in Chiangmai, Thailand. Plants of the new variety were grown in 15.2 cm pots in a plastic greenhouse in Chiangmai, Thailand and watered 1-2 times a day, if needed. Color references are primarily to the 2016 HTML Color Chart and The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, 6th Edition, except where general color terms are used.

PLANT

-   Time to initiate roots: About 20-30 days at about 30-33° C. -   Time to produce a rooted young plant: About 45 days at about 30-33°     C. -   Root description: Fibrous, with a cream colored (C6BDB2) milk tank. -   Number of rhizomes produced per plant: From 1-10. -   Rhizome diameter: 1.0 cm. -   Growth habit: Annual. -   Plant height (soil level to top of inflorescences): 25.0 cm. -   Plant diameter: 10.0-30.0 cm. -   Pubescence: None observed. -   Disease resistance/susceptibility: None observed. -   Pest resistance/susceptibility: None observed. -   Temperature tolerance: 20-40° C. or tropical climate conditions. -   Drought tolerance: Unknown. -   Seed/fruit: None observed to date. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Average number per plant.—5.         -   Length.—27.0 cm.         -   Width.—8.0 cm.         -   Shape of leaf (generally).—Narrowly elliptic.         -   Shape of apex.—Attenuate.         -   Shape of base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin description.—Entire, with some undulation present.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: Green (4A7105). Lower             surface: Green (4A7105). Mature leaves: Upper surface: Green             (283D18). Lower surface: Green (1C2415).         -   Veins.—Appearance: Pinnate. Color: Upper surface: Green with             a red (5A5A49) midrib. Lower surface: Green with a red             (5A5A49) midrib.         -   Leaf sheaths.—Length: 8.0 cm. Width: 1.5 cm. Texture: Upper             surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth. Color: Upper             surface: RHS 140B. Lower surface: RHS 140B. Venation:             Pattern: Parallel. Color: RHS 140B.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Inflorescence arrangement: 1 compact inflorescence per shoot. -   Inflorescence number per plant: From 2-3. -   Inflorescence length: 9.0 cm. -   Inflorescence diameter: 3.0 cm. -   Fragrance: None. -   Flower bracts:     -   -   Total number per inflorescence.—10-15.         -   Upper bracts.—Number: 4-6. Length: 2.0-3.0 cm. Width:             1.5-2.0 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth. Lower             surface: Smooth. Color: Upper surface: Rose pink (BC73A8).             Lower surface: Rose pink (BC73A8) with a brown (583016)             distal end.         -   Lower bracts.—Number: 4-6. Length: 1.5-2.0 cm. Width:             1.5-2.0 cm. Shape: Lanceolate-oblong. Apex: Acute. Base:             U-shaped. Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth.             Lower surface: Smooth. Color: Upper surface: Greenish brown             (292715). Lower surface: Greenish brown (292715). -   Flowers:     -   -   Number per inflorescence.—Approximately 24.         -   Continuity of flowering.—Approximately 1 month.         -   Lastingness of an individual flower.—1-2 days.         -   Length.—1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.         -   Appearance.—Orchidaceous form.         -   Upper petals.—Upper surface color: White (BA9BA3). Lower             surface color: White (BA9BA3).         -   Lower petals.—Upper surface color: White (BA9BA3) with a             purple (643964) lip. Lower surface color: White (BA9BA3)             with a purple (643964) lip.         -   Flower buds.—Length: 2.0 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm. Shape: Round.             Texture: Smooth. Color: RHS 84D.         -   Sepals.—Number: 3. Calyx arrangement: In overlapping             circles. Length: 0.7 cm. Width: 0.4 cm. Overall shape:             Elliptic. Apex: Elliptic. Base: Connected in a cone shape.             Texture: Smooth (both surfaces). Color: Upper surface: RHS             84D. Lower surface: RHS 84D. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—5.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—5.0 mm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Angle.—Upright.         -   Color.—White (D1D48E).

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—1. -   Filament:     -   -   Length.—5.0 mm.         -   Diameter.—5.0 mm.         -   Color.—White (D1D48E). -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—2-lobed.         -   Length.—3.0 mm.         -   Color.—White (D1D48E). -   Pollen: None observed. -   Pistils:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—5.0 mm. -   Style:     -   -   Length.—5.0 mm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 mm.         -   Color.—White (D1D48E). -   Stigma:     -   -   Length.—5.0 mm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 mm.         -   Color.—White (D1D48E). 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of curcuma plant, as is herein illustrated and described. 